This defense was bad, but it's not void of talent

[Verdict]

It’s easy to knee jerk and say you want to get rid of everyone. In practicality that’s not feasible.

This defense was epically bad, and the DC was a huge part of that. I think if you ran it back (I’m not advocating that) with the same players you would have seen some significant improvement and a benching of some players.

I think the following players have the tools to be tools for use by the Cowboys on defense:

EZE, Clark, Quinnen, OSA, (backup tackle whose name escapes me? Thomas?, Overshown, Revell, Bland, Carson, Shemar James, Clowney (fa)

There are a few other guys who are not starting level players but that play in spot duty. Those guys help fill out a roster.

If you add two legitimate players (LB and Outside Linebacker/Edge or Safety) this team would look vastly different.

Would I like more than that? Yes. Do I think we will get more than that? Yes. Will we like the FA additions and the quality of same? IDK. That is yet to be determined.

I’m expecting this defense to be from 15-20 next year just with a couple of high picks and a legit DC and a couple of mid tier free agents.

I think if we get lucky enough to add Downs at #12 the whole secondary will play much better as a unit, even with the same corners.

I think the team will over value corner in this draft. I hope I’m wrong and we draft Downs if he’s on the board. If he’s not we need to address linebacker and OLB/edge.

I think the thing that LEAST improves this team with a FRP will be a corner. We need to shore up the inside of this defense. If we add another DT, if the grade is there I would not be disappointed.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

I'm confident adding a high-level S, LBer and Edge elevates this D from the basement to the middle of the pack

 

[Kwyn]

We have exactly one pro bowl defender.

The only pro bowl level free agent defender is Trey Hendrickson and he had injuries and a down year.

That’s it.

How are we going to find one, let alone two or three or four?

if people are talking about average starter level defenders, we might be able to pick up a couple but i don’t think that will take us to mid pack

As to the draft, we draft poorly for defense. We just don’t know how. McClays team simply doesn’t know what to look for on a consistent basis. They get lucky sometimes.

Our defensive talent is among the worst in the league and the results are the proof.

If we finish in the 22-25 range, I think that will be a really fortunate outcome.

 

[morasp]

It Will be interesting to see Parker's player evaluations. Some players may benefit from new scheme/better coaching

 

[Jarntt]

I'm confident adding a high-level S, LBer and Edge elevates this D from the basement to the middle of the pack

Agree and throw in a good starting caliber CB and it rises another few steps. Now is adding 4 quality starters to one side of the ball in one offseason practical? If we bring in a LBer and a safety in free agency, which are comparatively cheaper positions, and draft and "hit on" a CB and Edge in the draft it's indeed possible. But, possible hasn't led to actual in a long time here so I will just have to be in the "hope" group for now

 

[Teague31]

It is 100% possible to turn this defense around in one offseason. IF Jerry pays up in free agency and we hit on both first rounders

 

[acr731]

Throughout the entire season I had no doubt the players were just as responsible for their poor play as Eberflus was.

 

[acr731]

I'm confident adding a high-level S, LBer and Edge elevates this D from the basement to the middle of the pack

Is middle of the pack going to be good enough? Quinn had a couple of defenses like that and it still didn't get the job done.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I think the team will over value corner in this draft. I hope I’m wrong and we draft Downs if he’s on the board.

Cowboys need the best defensive player on the board regardless of position (except DT) when they are on the clock.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It is 100% possible to turn this defense around in one offseason. IF Jerry pays up in free agency and we hit on both first rounders

Yes it is. Hitting on both 1st rounders and adding 2-3 legit starters would make a huge impact on the defense.

 

[75boyz]

I don't think a different scheme or coaching could have changed how poor many of both the starters and backups are as players.

Several of last season's threads here were of the fundamental difference of opinion regarding was it the coaching or the players.

While I'm no huge Eberflus apologist by any stretch and agree he could have done a better job, his same scheme with better players would have yielded drastically different results.
"Just" competent linebackers alone would have made a world of difference.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Agree and throw in a good starting caliber CB and it rises another few steps. Now is adding 4 quality starters to one side of the ball in one offseason practical? If we bring in a LBer and a safety in free agency, which are comparatively cheaper positions, and draft and "hit on" a CB and Edge in the draft it's indeed possible. But, possible hasn't led to actual in a long time here so I will just have to be in the "hope" group for now

We have two first-round picks........finding two day-one starters with these picks is a must, no other options. I'm 100% confident we can add at least two high-level starters via free agency( Reed Blankenship, Roquan Smith, just to name a few).

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Yes it is. Hitting on both 1st rounders and adding 2-3 legit starters would make a huge impact on the defense.

No question.....now add a new defensive coordinator.

 

[Gambit]

McClays team simply doesn’t know what to look for on a consistent basis

He looks for what coaches tell him in terms of traits. I think Dallas focuses way to much on traits vs dudes who can just flat out play.

I think Parker and Schotty are on same page with give me smart disciplined football players. This will help a ton.

 

[baltcowboy]

I am trying to figure out who on our defense that would start on Houston, Philadelphia, Seattle, or Denver. Besides Quinnen I doubt if anyone else would. Please guys stop overrating Overshown. He has missed more games than he has played. Big red flag. Clowney is a free agent mercenary, Bland got exposed without Quinn’s pass rush scheme, Clark is a JAG, and Osa was overpaid. EZ was a solid 2nd round pick but he does not appear to be a pro bowler.

 

[75boyz]

He looks for what coaches tell him in terms of traits. I think Dallas focuses way to much on traits vs dudes who can just flat out play.

I think Parker and Schotty are on same page with give me smart disciplined football players. This will help a ton.

Excellent point on traits. I have had similar discussions here emphasizing that those guys with traits yet lacking college film to support their lack of production are projects.

The types you can take a chance on in Rounds 4-7 not rounds 1-3 where you need immediate contributors.

Always go by that same old draft philosophy first and foremost when choosing your picks, and that is film dont lie.

 

[morasp]

Assuming they run the penny defense 3-3-5 and bring back Clowney

DT Odighizuwa
DT Williams
DT Clark
LB Overshown Houston
LB Ezeiruaku James
LB Clowney Liufau
CB Bland
CB Revel
CB Carson
S Hooker
S Bell/Thomas

I wouldn't rule out adding a defensive player with a trade like we did with Pickens which took a 2026 third and a 2027 sixth round pick and a fifth round swap

 

[Jarntt]

We have two first-round picks........finding two day-one starters with these picks is a must, no other options. I'm 100% confident we can add at least two high-level starters via free agency( Reed Blankenship, Roquan Smith, just to name a few).

Assuming we are willing to spend the money, I agree, and while I lean towards we will, the facts of the last decade plus years of free agency give me pause

 

[75boyz]

We have exactly one pro bowl defender.

The only pro bowl level free agent defender is Trey Hendrickson and he had injuries and a down year.

That’s it.

How are we going to find one, let alone two or three or four?

if people are talking about average starter level defenders, we might be able to pick up a couple but i don’t think that will take us to mid pack

As to the draft, we draft poorly for defense. We just don’t know how. McClays team simply doesn’t know what to look for on a consistent basis. They get lucky sometimes.

Our defensive talent is among the worst in the league and the results are the proof.

If we finish in the 22-25 range, I think that will be a really fortunate outcome.

It's really hard to argue any of this.

I wanna optimistically embrace change but my inbred pessimism is still there because of all these same points you make here.

Well done.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

We have exactly one pro bowl defender.

The only pro bowl level free agent defender is Trey Hendrickson and he had injuries and a down year.

That’s it.

How are we going to find one, let alone two or three or four?

if people are talking about average starter level defenders, we might be able to pick up a couple but i don’t think that will take us to mid pack

As to the draft, we draft poorly for defense. We just don’t know how. McClays team simply doesn’t know what to look for on a consistent basis. They get lucky sometimes.

Our defensive talent is among the worst in the league and the results are the proof.

If we finish in the 22-25 range, I think that will be a really fortunate outcome.

Ok .... let's see here

* Upgrading the defensive coordinator position alone will make a difference. I recall Dez saying during preseason that Eberflus was not playing to the players' strengths. We saw that the entire season. His stubbornness made defensive players collectively look worse than they were. Many/most games, we were outcoached, had no leadership or confidence, and it showed with tons of chunk plays to EVERY QB, even some of the worst in the league.

* Yes, they have missed on some defensive drafts but more times than not, that came from getting cute rather than following their board. I'm confident they will use the two 1st rounders to add two starters.

* As for free agency......I'm holding Jerry to his word, "bust the budget". This tells me they have always kept their free agent spending within a certain range/budget but this year could be an exception. With that said, there are several high-level ( not Pro Bowl) free agents we can add with reasonable money who can make a huge impact.